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- Ronan McGann of Botswana claims ball from Lukman Yaya of Ghana (TOP) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Tafadzwa Ncube of Botswana (R) tackles Lukman Yaya of Ghana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (C) breaks through tackle from Jeremy Babbage of Botswana during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (R) challenged by Letlhogile Tshko of Botswana (L) and challenge for the ball during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Lukman Yaya of Ghana (R) challenges Ronan McGann of Botswana (L) in line out during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Alexander Dorpenyo of Ghana (C) tackled byTshoganetso Katse of Botswana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Letlhogile Tsheko of Botswana (L) tries to block clearance from Kofi Montchon of Ghana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Katlego Mohutsiwa of Botswana (C) breaks through Ghana defence during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Ronan McGann of Botswana wins ball in line out during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (L) instructs teammate Lukman Yaya during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Abdul Jalilu Yussif of Ghana (L) celebrates victory with teammate Jason Kweku Dzata during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Lukman Yaya of Ghana embraced by fans during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Match officials lead players onto the pitch during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
- Ghana fans during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
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Ghana defeats Botswana 36-25 in Rugby Africa Cup 2020 kick-off match
Eagles secure their ticket to the group phase of the Rugby Africa Cup 2020
The victory shows a great improvement in rugby development in Ghana and we are holding the sporting victory mantle for the country Ghana
The Ghana Rugby Men's 15s team have recorded a victory against the Botswana Men's 15s in their qualifier match of the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) 2020.
The match which commenced at 11:00 am local time on Saturday was dubbed the "Battle of the Birds of Prey" due to the logos and names of the two teams - the Ghana Eagles and Botswana Vultures.
The Ghanaian squad started the match on an impressive note, but the Botswana Vultures fought back and ended the first half with a leading score of 19-12.
However, the Ghana Eagles put up a great fighting spirit in the second half of the match played in the Nduom's Sports Stadium, Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana, to clinch the crucial victory.
The match ended on a score of 36-25 in favour of the Ghana Eagles.
Ghana proceeds to the pool stage of the RAC and will face Zimbabwe and Tunisia in Pool D towards the middle of 2020.
Ghana went into the match with a global ranking of 91 while Botswana ranked 71 globally.
The Ghanaian player Richard Kossivi was voted man of the match.
Tries for Ghana included Boamah, Amissah, Yussif, Amuzuloh, Gavor, Botchi, with its
Cons including Acquaah, Acquaye 2.
Tries for Botswana included Katse, Petyt, Maifala, with cons: B van Zyl 2; pens: B van Zyl 2.
Reactions:
“The victory shows a great improvement in rugby development in Ghana and we are holding the sporting victory mantle for the country Ghana. Our team is set to play its next match against Zimbabwe in Harare, and we are determined to continue our path of success,” said President of the Ghana Rugby Association, Herbert Mensah.
President of Botswana Rugby, Sean Irish, expressed: “Despite our defeat, I am pleased with the performance of the squad. What the team showed in this match proves that Rugby in Botswana has developed greatly.”
Captain of the Ghana Eagles, Alexander Dorpenyo, said: “We went into this match with a strong determination to win and we made it happen.”
Next match dates for Ghana in the group stage of the Rugby Africa Cup 2020:
20 June 2020: Group D: Zimbabwe vs Ghana in Zimbabwe
4 July 2020: Group D: Ghana vs Tunisia in Ghana
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Ronan McGann of Botswana claims ball from Lukman Yaya of Ghana (TOP) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Tafadzwa Ncube of Botswana (R) tackles Lukman Yaya of Ghana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (C) breaks through tackle from Jeremy Babbage of Botswana during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (R) challenged by Letlhogile Tshko of Botswana (L) and challenge for the ball during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Lukman Yaya of Ghana (R) challenges Ronan McGann of Botswana (L) in line out during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Alexander Dorpenyo of Ghana (C) tackled byTshoganetso Katse of Botswana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Letlhogile Tsheko of Botswana (L) tries to block clearance from Kofi Montchon of Ghana (R) during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Katlego Mohutsiwa of Botswana (C) breaks through Ghana defence during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Ronan McGann of Botswana wins ball in line out during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Richard Kossivi Botchi of Ghana (L) instructs teammate Lukman Yaya during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Abdul Jalilu Yussif of Ghana (L) celebrates victory with teammate Jason Kweku Dzata during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Lukman Yaya of Ghana embraced by fans during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Match officials lead players onto the pitch during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
Ghana fans during the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 match between Ghana and Botswana at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana on 23 November 2019 ©Rugby Africa
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